Golf putter



INVENTOR.

Jan. 12 1926.

w. LOWELL GOLF PUTTER W/LL/HM LaweLL B'Y -f-y V Patented Jan. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM LOWELL, OF MAPLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY.

GOLF PUTTER.

Application filed November 13, 1925. Serial No. 68,752.

Toall whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, lViLLrAM LOWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing in Maplewood, in the township of South Orange, county of Essex', State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and vuseful Improvements in Golf Putters,vof which the followingis a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, illustrative of one particular embodiment of my invention.

My 'invention relates to golf clubs and more particularly to the club known as-y a putter, and among the objects Vare to provide a putter which may be adjusted'as to length betweenthe handle and the head, while' at any desired position of adjustment a rigid club, as a whole, is provided without any loose parts, and to provide such a club that can be quickly adjusted to-any desired length within limits, and quickly made rigid in structure, and when adjusted as to 'length is equal in every respect to the usual solidly built shaft and handle with rigidly attached head. The furtherobject is to provide such a golf club which may be frequently adjusted without wearing to a loose condition of handle, and which may be readily manufactured within practical tolerances of workmanship, an assembled iii a way providing for most accurate adjustment to permit easy slidingof the handle on the shaft and after long use to provide for any slight wearing, and to havethe releasable or clamping parts so enclosed as to preclude their corroding or being impaired for normal operation by any normal use to which such'an article is subjected.

The primary o. ject is to provide a putter in which the grip portion can be adjusted on the shank to a position where a person leaning over to address the hall fora short putt will have complete control of the club and will have the relatively large grip in his hands for convenient manipulatiom-i instead of the present condition wherein such a stroke would be performed by gripping the thinv 'shank beyond the grip portion, in the present day putter. With different players a dierent length is desired for accurate 4playing of the game and the range of adjustment it is aimed shall be provided by my invention, wliile at all times enabling the golfer to grip his putter at the grip portion and not at the thin shank where with lthe present day club the players fin- .t-ion, showing the grip portion in mi gers are cramped in trying toL get a secure grip, which constantly interferes with the accuracy of the stroke by an enforced diverting ofthe coordination of eye ,and muscle, which frequently makes a good player on other strokes very poor and uncertain on his putting strokes.

It. is known that a telescoping golf club shank has been suggested, which is rigid only at the extreme extension, but with all loose parts when reduced in length for packing. Also that it has been suggested to make a handle with means engaging a latch or bolt fitting a longitudinal groove which weakens the stick but which aim to accommodate different lengths to suit different adjustable heads, all of which features provided only a` most dangerous implement, with loose parts that could in no way serve the purpose of providing a practical, rigid golf club that would meet the requirements of the game.

The many distinct advantages, and features of constructionwhich provide for a practical, edective and very advantageous golf club, are shown in one particular ernhodiment in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a putter with the handle adjustd ed and rigidly secured in its 'shortest length.

Fig. 2 is a putter, with the handle indsejustment. o

Fig. 3 is a similar view, but with the gr1p adjusted to maximum length of shank or club, as in the position desired for carrying the club in a caddy bag, with sufficient length to leave the head protruding and readily accessible in the ordinary golf bag.

Fig. 4 is a section on an enlarged scale, of the grip andthe connections permitting adjustment and rigidly uniting it with the shank.

In this embodiment the putter consists -of the head A which is rigidly united with the end B of the shank C, which shank has a cylindrical portion D from close to the extreme end to a point Ewhere a taper may start to form any desired slim or slightly `flexible, wrist section between the head and the hand-hold. This permits the usual slim, tapered or whip shank of any degree of proper balance or weight to sui-t the eXacting requirements of experts or odd requirements of other players. While thus the whip portion may be of any usual o r delsired weight or shape, to suit the conditions of wood or metal sticks, the upper -end of the stick or shaft, approximately half the length from the head socket, is truly cylindrical except at the extreme end where a bearing construction provides a slight bulge, as hereinafter described in detail. This straight portion being only about half the length of the shaft may readily be made of true size in wood with little chance of any warping to interfere with the rigid securing and adjustment, as hereinafter described, and it 1nay "also be made, as shown in the details of the form illustrated, of tubular metal and admirably meet the requirements of suitable tolerances for a perfect construction. When made of metal the exact and accurate size of cylindrical tubing, suitable for the upper end of the shank, is used, and this is swaged down to a taper from E to the head end, without disturbing the portion of uniform diameter while still providing all of the neatness and balance desired in such a club.

The grip G is formed of the tubular section H with the wrapping J and the surface wrapping K, usually of leather, with suitable whipping at either end L and L', so that, as desired, a grip of the exact dimensions and finish nowaccepted as best practice, is used without requirin The grip tube H extends at shghtly beyond the grip covering and has prongs M tapered on the outside in a springy condition, owing to cold drawn metal or made springy b tempering of the non-rusting' alloy or ot er metal best suited for such purpose, Vand these prongs are preferably slightly offset to a smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the grip tube H, so

that they provide an easy sliding t or bearing on the uniform diameter section of the staff. A thin short sleeve N engages with internal threads the threaded portion L on the rigid end ortion ofthe tube H, while the exterior ofp N has preferably a knurled portion not greater, and preferably slightly less in diameter than the adjacent whipped end of the covering. The outer end of the adjusting sleeve N has an interior tapered bore adapted to fit the outer surface of the prongs M, but with the extreme end N forming a cover to prevent ingress'of wafer and dirt to the prongs, by being, extended beyond them and to a size, preferably with a short, straight bore providing a close sliding fit on that portion of the stati.

At the extreme handle end of the staff the bearing F comprises prongs F which may be formed by slotting the end of a metal tubular staff, or in case of a wooden staff a suitable metal end section may be provided for a good sliding fit bearing capable of adjustment, vbut at this end the bearing on the interior of the grip tube H is very short 1n order that very closev adjustment may be any change.`

made to avoid any change of looseness, and at the same time such a short section of bearing as to permit very easyV longitudinal adjustment. This end engagement with the grlp must avoid all chance of jamming and eliminate a condition of bearing which would cause the end of the staff to stick under any conditions of use, but must distinctly be a durable, little wearing, slidingfit bearing capable of adjustment with extreme accuracy, but providing a rigid backing for the prongs when so adjusted. The equivalent in the form of a very short ring, which may be a spring ring, capable of accurate adjustment may serve in some cases most of the requirements but is not preferred owing to its adding a chance of a loose part when not accurately made subject to the conditions of quantity production. These prongs F are expanded for very short bearing position by expander stud 0 with a screw end O engaging a screw block or nut P, which may be rigidly positioned in the tubularend of the staff as by pin p. The taper of this expander O is such as to hold a short section of the prongs in their accurate bearing position, while the threads O are fine threads, that is, withvshort pitch permitting accurate adjustment, but with a tight t and suiiiciently long-threaded section, tof prevent any chance ofextended use causing looseness or rattle. Y Preferably near the end of the grip tube I provide slight inv`dentations, which may be made by spinning, or may be only part of the circumference,

but 'of such a depressed extent that they will engage the prongs F without jamming. This stop Q thus provides means whereby the grip can be originally forced on to the end of the shaft on the original assembly in the shop, but thereafter when the expander O has accurately adjusted the bearing F, the stop will prevent the grip from being removed b limiting it to the desired maximum extendled position, but without in any Wa interfering with the accurate bearing an free-sliding tit between the bearings F and prongs M.

For the accurate adjustment of the bearing F a cap R with a slot 1' provides a weather and airtight closure when screwed into the butt end of the grip, while the slot is preferably made to be engaged by a small coin which is always handy, and its soft metal has the advantage of avoiding any chance of barring the cap if made of metal, although it may be made of hard rubber or other suitable material. By the arrangement of prongs M, the loosening of the clamping sleeve N is arranged to permit enough air, if necessary by a longitudinal slot S through part of the threads on the end of the grip tube H, so that when sleeve, N moves a short distance it admits air sufficient to permit the grip being readily adj usted on the end of the statL'While at thebearing F the. prongs are suliiciently separated to permit the movement of air from the upper end of the grip tube past the clamp F and through the annular clearance space between the staff and the interior of the handle of the grip tube H. t

Thus provision is made for easy adjustment and absolutely tight joints as far as bearing is concerned to vavoid any rattling, and still accommodate the adjustment of the grip from a maximum length of putter, suitable for handling in a caddy bag or for most extended length for use, as well as shortening the putter as a complete article without any surplus of the grip projecting beyond the hands when in the shortest desired position. j

It will thus be seen that a golf club is provided which primarily meets the particular conditions involved in the use of a putter. For short or big players, each requiring for the best aim and manipulation some length to suit their personal equation, the grip can be shifted on the shaft to the desired position where the hands will have a normal grasp or clutch of a normal size grip for the exact length of leverage or swing which the player decides is best for the particular stroke, varying it at will for a long putt or a short putt. This entirely obviates the condition as illust-rated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, Where with the present form of putter a player, in the majority of cases, slides his hands down the shaft in order to get a short swing of the putter club, but in doing so must cramp his fingers on the small diameter -of the shaft which in the first place makes his grip awkward and. abnormal, therefore seriously affecting the aim and accurate results of the stroke, and in the sec ond place leaving a long protruding handle end which invariably is liable to catch in ,his garments, and at the moment=of stroke is interfered with by one of his arms, and in many cases it is well known to be the cause of ruining a stroke with a putter that otherwise may have been well aimed, ndue to the ltwisting of the thin shaft in the cramped hand-hold, or interference with the end of the shaft causing a twist of the head, just as it hits the ball, or varying the strength of the stroke thatl has otherwise been precisely regulated with the trained coordination of the muscles and eye.

.By my invention an article is produced which has all the iirmnessand solidity of structure essential for the accurate playing of the game, and at the same time comprising an article which at the moment ofuse is of absolutely uniform weight and balance under all conditions of adjustment. The adjustable hand-grip may at any time of adjustment be slightly twisted around the/ shaft so as to avoid wearingl grooves into the shaft, but always preserves a uniform and proper4 sliding contact bearing both onpthe shaft and at the end of the shaft inside of the grip or handle. It will be noted that the clamping sleeve provides an extended surface Contact which avoids denting the surface of a Wooden shaft, While still providing a rigid union in any position of adjustment; also the extreme end of the shaft has only a short bearing contact with the inside of the grip, whereby easy sliding is sured clearance of the major portion of the shaft section of uniform thickness, while no part permits access of water or dirt, and when in clamped position even air is entirely excluded, so that a little oil may be initially inserted to assure easy sliding of bearing F, without any chance of the oil leaking.

As the shortest length of a putter is readily determined for the normal player, and the maximum required lengt-h to permit the head to protrude from a caddy bag, the maximum range of adjustment is suchthat the length of the grip portion is normal or only slight] y longer than the usual golf club handle, but still provides throughout the range of adjustment an ample distance between the securing sleeve on the shaft and the interior bearing of the end of the shaft to assure all of the transverse strength of the club as a unit, and at the same time avoid extreme strains that would impair any normal durability of the bearingsl t0 interfere with their accuracy for rigidity of the putter as a whole.

While variations may be made in the embodiment of my invention from the particular form in which it is herein shown and described, without departing from vmy invention, what claim and desire to` secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A golf putter having means for a limitedadjustabilityof handle or grip over a lengthof a shaft rigidly secured to a striking head throughout substantially half the upper end of said shaft, comprising two sep arated bearings for firm adjustment, one bef ing at the end of the shaft and the other at the inner end of the handle or grip.

2. A-putter comprising a striking head, a oneLpiece shaft rigidly secured thereto of a length not exceeding the shortest total length of putter suitable for normal use, a tubular grip slidable on the end of the shaft and adapted to closely abut the end of the shaft for'use in its shortest length, with a bearing ,tutti at the end of the shaft, and at the inner end of the grip rigidly uniting the same, and means for releasing the bearing on the inner end of the grip and longitudinally and rotatably adjusting the grip to extend beyond the shaft end to substantially the full length of the shaft grip and to provide two separated bearings for interengagement between grip and shaft for rigidly uniting said adjustable members at all positions Within the range.

3. A golf club having a striking head and a rigidly united shaft, a tubular handle slidable over the end of the shaft throughout the full range of length of the grip and out of Contact with the surface of the shaft except at the bearing at the end of the shaft and a second bearing at the inner end of the grip, a stop near the inner end of the grip to hold the said two bearings separated beyond a minimum distance when sliding the grip on the shaft and means for taking up wear in one of said bearings.

4. An adjustable length of golf club having a slidable rotatable grip, a shaft having a rigidly attached head at one end and a substantial portion of the other end of the shaft fitting loosely within the grip, a tight sliding bearing adjacent the end of the shaft engaging a small area of contact inside of the grip, and a readily releasable clamping surface at the inner end of the grip, whereby the grip may be readily shifted longitudinally to any position on the shaft Within a predetermined range, and may within range of movement be rigidly united with the shaft, and an exterior means on the grip to effect such union.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this application, this 29th day of October, 1925.

WILLIAM LOWELL. 

